[marxjunk]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42538948...ion/?GT1=43001

[GT182]

98 million for it.... And we've got people here in the US that go to bed hungry a night. A 50 cal round would have done the job a lot faster..... and a hellofa lot cheaper.

[sleepy]

As slow as that target boat was going(idling) a kid with a .22 could have ripped it up.

[stimpy]

if you look closely at the end of the video you see the laser mounted on the target boat , that doesn't impress me non as air will lower a lasers power by distorting the beam .

[mzbk2l]

That was a camera on the outrigger of the small boat. I didn't watch the vid on MSNBC, but I saw it on Time's website yesterday. They said by the 2020s they should have a laser that will cut through steel at 2,000 feet per second.

You're not gonna find a .50 cal round that will perform THAT little trick...

[arbys]

I think they need to try it out off Somalia.

[Cliff R]

The big disadvantage of a lazer from a ship mounted platform is that the target must be in the line of sight. The small advantage of a lazer's straight line travel in the line of sight is trumped by the fact that any conventional round, 20mm, 5", 16", etc can deliver ordinance on target at great distances, even over the horizon. Of course the round has to be well chosen for the target and distance. The Navy's big guns can delivery a Volkswagon size projectile on target up to 24 miles away, and do considerable damage upon delivery.

I can't imagine a laser of any type being able to do the same thing, or anything close to it at great distances.

Different deal completely if it were used from aircraft to ground or other airborn targets.....Cliff

[HaloMedic]

Originally Posted by mzbk2l

That was a camera on the outrigger of the small boat. I didn't watch the vid on MSNBC, but I saw it on Time's website yesterday. They said by the 2020s they should have a laser that will cut through steel at 2,000 feet per second.

You're not gonna find a .50 cal round that will perform THAT little trick...

Remember when we are being told something about anything from the government its been around for 40 years, fact is the military has had a working laser sense 1964
and on that what you just posted . well lets just say its been around for 20 years.
food for thought if we can control a Yag laser to fix someones eyesight we can cut thru steel. think Plasma

[Bob Rutledge]

Originally Posted by Cliff R

The big disadvantage of a lazer from a ship mounted platform is that the target must be in the line of sight. The small advantage of a lazer's straight line travel in the line of sight is trumped by the fact that any conventional round, 20mm, 5", 16", etc can deliver ordinance on target at great distances, even over the horizon. Of course the round has to be well chosen for the target and distance. The Navy's big guns can delivery a Volkswagon size projectile on target up to 24 miles away, and do considerable damage upon delivery.

I can't imagine a laser of any type being able to do the same thing, or anything close to it at great distances.

Different deal completely if it were used from aircraft to ground or other airborn targets.....Cliff

Cliff, not to nitpick, but the US Navy does not have a commissioned battleship anymore, so no more throwing the weight of a Volkswagen projectile over 24 miles away. Also, the missiles and bombs that we have can and do much more damage than said 16 incher. Most of our ships do not carry 5 inchers anymore either. The ship I was on, the USS Saipan along with her sister ships in the LHA class had the 5 inchers removed. The ships rely on missiles now, and the CIWS (Close in Weapons System) for missile defense. We called it the R2-D2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP6Gp...eature=related

If you want to hit things over the horizon, then missiles and bombs are your choice, if you want to take things out in a straight line with very little deflection, then a laser would be my choice, especially when they have the laser perfected. The CIWS is pretty good at shooting down targets, but I imagine the Laser would be much better at it.

[dionsm]

The problem I see is, if we can see them then they can see us.
I agree the potential for the laser is huge but may be best suited for unmanned drones that can maintain line of site from various altitudes. Satellite guided smart weapons, IMO, are a better choice.

[Evil Stu]

Originally Posted by arbys

I think they need to try it out off Somalia.

Better watch out for ragheads holding mirrors...

[David Jones]

I always thought you had to start somewhere.
I don't suppose those that invented the "car" over 100+ years ago could have envisioned what we are driving now. Or our road system. I'd imagine that the Wright Brothers thought they were pretty snappy with their "flyer". Did a space shuttle seem possible to them? Could the Chinese that invented gunpowder have seen the tomahawk cruise missile coming in the future?
The government videoed a crude lazer weapon at work. What haven't they showed us? Where will that program be in 5 years?
Hungry people? Please.........